A pair of track meets featuring some of the Semiahmoo Peninsula’s youngest athletes are to take place this week – on back-to-back days – at South Surrey Athletic Park.
On Wednesday, Ocean Athletics will host a meet in celebration of World Athletics Day, from 4 to 9:30 p.m. The sixth annual meet, which will feature high-school athletes, will include events ranging from 100-m to steeplechase, and a number of jumps, throws and relays.
The following day, for the first time in South Surrey, Ocean Athletics will host the Hershey Track and Field Games, which feature athletes from nine to 14 years old.
Events will range from the 50-m dash to the 1,200-m run, and will also include standing long jump and softball throw.
The event – sponsored by the Hershey Company and originating in Hershey, Penn. – has been held in other North American locales for more than 30 years, but only a handful of times in Canada.
“It’s aimed at our youngest athletes – it’s a very grassroots program,” said Ocean Athletics’ Maureen de St. Croix.
“We’re expecting pretty good numbers – it should be a lot of fun.”
The event runs from 6-8:30 p.m. at the athletic park, and is open to any athlete in the age range. Cost to sign up is $5; visit www.oceanathletics.org to register.
A free BC Athletics-hosted “Run Jump Throw” program, for six- to eight-year-olds, will also be held.
